Switch mechanism



Angle, 1932. H, K, KRANTZ A 1,872,303

SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. ll, 1928 INSULATION f /NJl/L Arlon INM/Arrow ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE HUBERT K. KBANTZ, OF BOCKVILLE CENTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUII ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

-swrrcn Application med August 11, 1988. Serial 10.898,896. y

My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to switch mechanismof .the tumbler action type wherein a bridging switch is pivotally 'mounted for engaging spaced contact members andv wherein a p1voted operating handle is connected to the switch member by an over-centerl sprm for causing the switch to move to open and c osed positions with a snap action in response a predetermined movement o the operatmg handle.

An object of my invention is to provlde a tumbler type switch suitable for controlling the circuits of distributing panels, wherein the switch is mounted upon an 1nsulating base member and wherein the contact members of the switch extend beneath lthe insulating base member and engage terminal members that are mounted upon the distributing panel base, and wherein the at# taching bolt which usually serves to connect the switch to the panel base, serves also to connect the contact members ofthe switch to the terminal members of the base.

A further object of my invention 1s to provide a tumbler type switch havmg the above-noted characteristics wherein many of the parts may be stamped from sheet metal and wherein assembly thereof is facilitated.

These and other objects that will be made apparent throughout the further'description of my invention are attained by means of the switch mechanism hereinater described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 isa side elevational view of a switch embodying features of my invention and sho .'ng the switch parts in the positlon they occupy 'when the switch. is in closed position. Fig. 2 that of Fig. 1.1, showing the parts in the open position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the switch viewed from theside opposite'to that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the switch shown in Fig. 1; and l Fig.. 5 is an end view of the switch `with the parts in the open position as shown in is an elevational view, similar to.

portions 9 that extend normal to the base portion and parallel to one another as indicated in Fig. 5. The base portion 8 is secured to the insulating base 6 by means of rivets 11 and the frame is provided with a deep notch .12, Fig. 3, that extends inwardly from the base ortion for receiving a switch carrier 13 that 1s stam ed from sheet metal and is of U-shape as in icated 'in Fig. 5. The wings 9 of the frame 7 are provided with bearing portions-14 that are located adjacent one side of the notch 12 as indicated in Fig. 3, the bearing portions being provided with bearing openings 15 for receiving inwardly extending journals 16 that project into the bearing openings 15. The journals 16 serve as a plvot about which the carrier 13 may oscillate within the notches 12, the sides of which at 17 serve as limit stops for the carrier. v

A pair of yielding switch blade members 18 are secured to the outer edge of the carrier 13 upon an extension 19 and a pair of arc extinguishing plates 21 are' also mountedupon the .extension 19 on opposite sides of the switch blades 18, the insulating plates being disposed between metal washers 22 mounted on the ex-v tension 19. The switch blades and insulating plates are secured to the carrier by peening over the end of the extension 19.

A pair of contact members 23 and 24 are aligned with the switch blades 18 in such manner that when the switch blades are moved to the closed position shown in Figrl, the blades engage opposite sides of the contact members. The contact members 23 and 24 are provided with terminal engaging portions 25 that extend beneath the base member 6 and are adapted to conductively engage terminal straps 26 that are mounted upon the insulating panel base 27 as shown in Fig. 3. The

. base 6 and the terminal engaging portions 25 tributing panel base 27. When the switch blades are in the closed position, the terminals 26 are conductively connected. One of the terminals 26 may be connected to a load circuit and the other to a fuse receptacle. By reason of this construction, the switch is attached to the distributing panel base and to the conductive terminals with one operation.

The switch carrier 13 is actuated by means of an insulating operating handle 31 that is pivotally mounted upon a. shaft 32 that is supported in the wings 9 of the frame. A pair of operating arms 33 are alsopivoted upon the shaft 32 and are disposed on opposite sides of the handle 31 in recesses 34 in the sides of the handle. Since the notches 34 are noncircular and since the arms 33 and operating handle 31 are pivoted upon the shaft 32, the arms are retained in assembled position be tween the wings 9 and move with the switch operating handle. The arms 33 are provided with openings 35 which receive inwardly eX- tending lugs 36 mounted on the free ends of the carrier 13. The openings 35 provide a limited lost motion connection between the operating handle and the carrier 13. but the cooperating parts are so related that the operating handle may positively move the switch blade to either open or closed position after the operating handle has moved a predetermined distance in either direction.

In order to cause the carrier 13 to be moved to open and closed positions with a snap action, the arms 33 of the operating handle 31 are connected to the carrier 13 by means of an over-center'compression spring 37 that is mounted upon a pintle 38 having an enlarged forked end 39 provided with a notch 41 which engages the inner end of the carrier 13 as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. The spring 38 is confined between the enlarged portion 39 of the -pintle and a trunnion plate 42 that is journalled in bearing openings 43 in the ends of the arms 33. The v pintle 38 extends through an opening in the trunnion plate 42.

When the switch is in the closed position shown in Fig. 3, it may be moved to the open position shown in Fig. 2 by moving the operating handle 31 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3. This movement causes the trunnion plate 42 to-move toward the enlarged portion 39 of the pintle and compress the spring 37. When the pivots of trunnion plate 42 pass beyond the plane of the carrier 13, the spring will expand and move the carrier to the open position with a snap action. To close the switch, the operating handle is moved in the opposite direction, thus causingthe carrier to be moved to the closed position with a snap action. Lugs 44 on the wings 9 of the frame 7 serve to engage the arms 33 of the operating handle and limit the movement thereof in either direction.

By reason of the notch 12 bein cut in fromI the base portion of the frame, t e carrier 13 may readily be assembled therein. The parallel wings 9 of the frame 7 may be pressed toward one another so that the Ajournal lugs 16 thereof may be assembled in the bearing Y openings 15. lfVhen the journals are brought into registry with the openings 15, the wings of the frame are released and return to theirnormal position. The arms remain in this position and prevent separation of the carrier from the frame.

By reason of the operating handle construction, the metal arms thereof may readily be assembled with respect to the insulating handle when the arms and handle are riveted to the frame. It will be apparent that the assembly of the entire switch unit is relatively simple and is an inexpensive operation.

lfVhile few parts are required, it is apparent that a sturdy construction is provided wherein the switch may be positively moved to the open position by the operating handle in the event that the switch blades become fastened to the Contact members due to corrosion of the parts or fusion of the metal thereof.

It will be noted that the insulating plates 21 are so disposed that they are interposed between the switch blades and the contact members when the switch is in open position. In moving to open position, the ins'ulating plates pass the contact members on opposite-sides thereof and any arc formed between the ends of the switch blades 'and the contact members is drawn between the spaced insulating plates and is cooled and rapidly extinguished before any burning of the switch blades or contact members occurs.

The insulating plates also serve to prevent the arc from flashing over from adjacent switches or to any metal parts in the immediate vicinity of the switch.

While. I have illustrated but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that-various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus ilf lustrated without departing from the spirit and ,scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims. 4

I claim as my invention:

l1. Switch mechanism comprising a frame member of U-shape having a base portion and integral Wing portions and a notch eX- tending inwardly through the base portion of the frame and a bearing portion adjacent the notch for receiving a switch carrier, a switch carrier of U-shape havingr inwardly extending journal members cooperating with thebearing portions for pivotally supporting the carrier for oscillation within the said notch, the carrier having inwardly projecting integral lugs extending through the notch into the space between the wings of the frame member, an operating handle pivotally mounted for oscillation between the said wings and having spaced arms provided with openings for receiving the said lugs, whereby the carrier is operated positively by the handle after the latter has moved in e1- ther direction a predetermined distance, and

an over-center spring disposed between the the handle, and fitting into the cut-away portions and engaging the shoulders for preventing relative rotary movement of the arms and handle.

3. Switch mechanism comprising a frame member of U-shape having a base portion and integral wing portions and a notch extending inwardly through the base portion of the frame and a bearing portion adjacent the notch for receiving a switch carrier, a switch carrier of U-shape having inwardly extending journal members cooperating with the bearing portions for pivotally supporting the carrier for oscillation within the said notch, the carrier having inwardly projecting integral lugs extending through the notch into the space between the wings ofthe frame member, an operating handle pivotally mounted for oscillation between the said wings and having spaced arms provided with openings for receiving the said lugs, whereby the carrier is operated positively by the handle after the latter has moved in either direction a predetermined distance, an over-center spring disposed between the said arms and the carrier for moving the carrier with a snap action in response to a predetermined movement of the said handle and means on the said wings for limiting the movement of the said arms in either direction.

4. Switch mechanism comprising an insulat-ing support having a terminal on one face thereof, a switch base mounted upon -the 'support and having a contact member having a terminal-engagingfportion on its inner face for engaging 'the terminal on the support when the base is in assembled position on the support and having an integral switch contact portion exposed on the outer face of the base for engaging a switch member, and a movable switch member mounted on the outer face of the base for conductively engaging the said switch contact portion.

5. Switch mechanism comprising an insulating support having a terminal on one face thereof, a switch base mounted upon the support and having a contact member havinga terminal-engaging portion on its inner face for engaging the terminal on the support when the base is in assembled position on the support and having an integral switch contact portion exposed on the outer face of the base for engaging a switch member, a movable switch member mounted on the outer face of the base for conductively engaging the said switch contact portion, and means for releasably clamping the base upon the support for maintaining the first said contact member in conductive engagement with the terminal on the support.

6. Switch mechanism comprising an insulating switch base having slots extending inwardly from an edge thereof, contact members having a switch contact portion exposed on one face of the base and an integral terminal contact portion on the other face of the base provided with a slot aligned with the slot in the base, a movable switch member mounted on the base for engaging the said switch contact portions, a support for the base having terminals on one face thereof adapted to be engaged by the said terminal contact portions when the base is in assembled position, and attaching screws on the base extending through the said slot-s in the terminal portions and the base .for securing the base to the support. w

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this seventh day of August HUBERT K. KRANTZ. 

